As Nevada wildlife officials continue discussions on regulations guiding animal trapping, they do so with one key participant recently convicted of breaking the very law now under the spotlight.

Joel Blakeslee, president of the Nevada Trappers Association, pleaded guilty April 24 in Wadsworth Justice Court to a misdemeanor charge of failing to visit animal traps within a four-day period. He was fined $330.

Blakeslee, as head of the trappers association and a paid lobbyist representing the trapping industry before the Legislature, has been heavily involved in recent discussions concerning trapping regulations, including a still-active proposal to substantially shorten the amount of time trappers are allowed to leave their traps unchecked in some areas.

Blakeslee's case came up in recent discussions on possible regulatory changes and is an unwelcome development, participants in the process said.

"It's troubling to me. I'm disappointed more than anything," said Jack Robb, chairman of the Nevada Wildlife Commission and a member of a committee now discussing changes in trapping rules.

"We've worked hard to work with both sides and when you have a violation like this, it becomes a distraction," Robb said. "It really takes away from where we're trying to get to."

Blakeslee, who said a nasty case of pneumonia and car troubles were largely responsible for his failure to pay timely visits to a string of traps set last February in a remote area of northern Washoe County, describes the incident as an unfortunate set of circumstances that spiraled beyond his control.

"There are things you can control and things you cannot control," Blakeslee said. "Things got out of control."

The traps in question were discovered by Game Warden Randy Lusetti of the Nevada Department of Wildlife while the warden was on routine patrol on the southwest side of the Hays Canyon Mountain Range on Feb. 7, according to a report prepared by the warden.

Some of the six leg-hold traps, apparently set for bobcats but empty at the time, displayed damage Lusetti said could have been consistent of "either multiple catches, or animals being left in the traps for an extended period of time."

Lusetti initiated surveillance of the trap area, including through the installation of trail cameras, that lasted until Feb. 17, with no evidence suggesting the traps were visited during the 10-day period. Lusetti encountered, interviewed and ultimately cited Blakeslee in the area on Feb. 17.

Blakeslee told Lusetti of his recent illness and car troubles and "appeared to reluctantly admit he was late in visiting the traps in question," according to the warden's report. Lusetti concluded at minimum of 237 hours had passed since the traps were last visited, well in excess of the 96-hour maximum required by law.

Lusetti noted in his report that Blakeslee expressed concern over the potential ramifications of a violation.

"He told me, 'it could be the end of me as far as politics,' " Lusetti wrote.

On Tuesday, Blakeslee said he now expects no long-term consequences stemming from what he described as an unfortunate incident that he considers over.

"I can't tell you I did anything I'm ashamed of," he said.

The Nevada Wildlife Commission is currently considering changes in trap visitation regulations as required by a bill passed last year by the Nevada Legislature. In a March meeting in Elko, the commission's Trapping Regulation Committee voted 3-2 to keep the 96-hour limit unchanged across most of Nevada but to consider shortening required visitation to within one calendar day near urban areas such as Reno, Carson City and Las Vegas. A final decision by commissioners is expected in June.

"We call this tokenism — window dressing — and it will not relieve the outrageous animal suffering statewide," the nonprofit group TrailSafe Nevada said in a newletter published after the March vote. The group has argued in favor of changes before the Legislature and Wildlife Commission.

Trish Swain, founder of TrailSafe, declined to comment on Blakeslee's case but did say she remains convinced trapping regulations in Nevada need to be substantially strengthened to reduce abuse of animals.

"The trappers will not accept any tighter regulations than they already have," Swain said. "Trappers do have what I consider to be exceptionalism in the wildlife system."

Robb said he favors requiring trap visitation within one day near urbanized areas and acknowledges one reason why would be to prompt trappers to pursue their activity in more remote locations.

"I hope it encourages people to go a little farther out of town," Robb said.

Blakeslee said he remains opposed, in part because a one-day rule would likely lead to injury of trappers hurrying to comply while working in rugged, rocky terrain.

It will also likely lead to many unintentional violations like his own, Blakeslee said.

"You go to a one calendar day and that's giving a guy no leeway for circumstances like this," Blakeslee said. "In a four-month (trapping) season, there is going to be something that happens to everybody that won't make a 24-hour trap check work."